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Geography


Location:
Central Europe, east of Germany


Geographic coordinates:
52 00 N, 20 00 E


Map references:
Europe


Area:
total:312,685 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 70
land:304,255 sq km
water:8,430 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Mexico


Land boundaries:
total:3,071 km
border countries:Belarus 418 km, Czech Republic 796 km, Germany 467 km, Lithuania 104 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 210 km, Slovakia 541 km, Ukraine 535 km


Coastline:
440 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
exclusive economic zone:defined by international treaties


Climate:
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers


Terrain:
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point:Rysy 2,499 m


    Natural resources:
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land


Land use:
arable land:35.49%
permanent crops:1.25%
other:63.26% (2011)


Irrigated land:
1,157 sq km (2007)


Total renewable water resources:
61.6 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
61.6 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
flooding


Environment - current issues:
situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but at substantial cost to business and the government


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94


Geography - note:
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain


People and Society


Nationality:
noun: Pole(s)
adjective:Polish


Ethnic groups:
Polish 96.9%, Silesian 1.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 1.7%


Languages:
Polish (official) 96.2%, Polish and non-Polish 2%, non-Polish 0.5%, unspecified 1.3%


Religions:
Catholic 87.2% (includes Roman Catholic 86.9% and Greek Catholic, Armenian Catholic, and Byzantine-Slavic Catholic .3%), Orthodox 1.3% (almost all are Polish Autocephalous Orthodox), Protestant 0.4% (mainly Augsburg Evangelical and Pentacostal), other 0.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness, Buddhist, Hare Krishna, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Muslim, Jewish, Mormon), unspecified 10.8% (2012 est.)


Population:
38,346,279 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 35


Age structure:
0-14 years:14.6% (male 2,876,264/female 2,716,569)
15-24 years:11.9% (male 2,333,627/female 2,235,228)
25-54 years:43.8% (male 8,459,153/female 8,355,491)
55-64 years:14.7% (male 2,658,106/female 2,973,933)
65 years and over:14.5% (male 2,224,569/female 3,513,339) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:42.3 %
youth dependency ratio:21.4 %
elderly dependency ratio:21.2 %
potential support ratio:4.7 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:39.5 years
male:37.9 years
female:41.3 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
-0.11% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 203


Birth rate:
9.77 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 200


Death rate:
10.37 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 43


Net migration rate:
-0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 134


Urbanization:
urban population:60.9% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:-0.04% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
WARSAW (capital) 1.723 million; Krakow 756,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.62 male(s)/female
total population:0.94 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
26.9 (2011 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
5 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


    Infant mortality rate:
total:6.19 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 168
male:6.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female:5.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:76.65 yearscountry comparison to the world: 76
male:72.74 years
female:80.8 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.33 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 212


Health expenditures:
6.7% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
2.07 physicians/1,000 population (2010)


Hospital bed density:
6.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 95.7% of population
rural: 79.7% of population
total: 89.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4.3% of population
rural: 20.3% of population
total: 10.5% of population (2008 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 168


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
27,000 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 74


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 108


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
25.3% (2008)country comparison to the world: 56


Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 65

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99.7%
male:99.9%
female:99.6% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:16 years
male:15 years
female:16 years (2012)


Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:26.5%country comparison to the world: 36
male:24.1%
female:30% (2012)

Government


Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Poland
conventional short form:Poland
local long form:Rzeczpospolita Polska
local short form:Polska


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Warsaw
geographic coordinates:52 15 N, 21 00 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October


Administrative divisions:
16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie (Lodz), Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland), Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie (Opole), Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia), Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie (Holy Cross), Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland), Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania)


Independence:
11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)


National holiday:
Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)


Constitution:
several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997; amended 2006, 2009 (2013)


Legal system:
civil law system; changes gradually being introduced as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of legislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final


International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (since 6 August 2010)
head of government:Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November 2007); Deputy Prime Ministers Janusz PIECHOCINSKI (since 6 December 2012) and Elzbieta BIENKOWSKA (since 27 November 2013)
cabinet:Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers
elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 June and 4 July 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm
election results:Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI elected president; percent of popular vote - Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI 53%, Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI 47%


Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of an upper house, the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms), and a lower house, the Sejm (460 seats; members elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms); the designation of National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly
elections:Senate - last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held by October 2015); Sejm - last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held by October 2015)
election results and current seat distribution:Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PO 63, PiS 29, PSL 2, SP 2, independents 4; as of 25 January 2014 - PO 62, PiS 30, PSL 2, SP 2, independents 4; Sejm - percent of vote by party - PO 39.2%, PiS 29.9%, RP 10%, PSL 8.4%, SLD 8.2%, other 4.3%; seats by party - PO 206, PiS 137, RP 43, PSL 28, SLD 25, SP 19, independent 1, German minority 1; as of 25 January 2014 - PO 203, PiS 136, TR 36, PSL 33, SLD 26, SP 17, independent 8, German Minority 1
note:the German minority is exempt from the 5% threshold requirement for seats to the Sejm


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court or Sad Najwyzszy (consists of the president of the Supreme Court and 116 judges organized in criminal, civil, labor and social insurance, and military chambers)
judge selection and term of office:president of the Supreme Court nominated by the General Assembly of the Supreme Court and selected by the president of Poland; other judges nominated by the 25-member National Judiciary Council, and appointed by the president of Poland; judges appointed until retirement, normally at age 65, but tenure can be extended
subordinate courts:Constitutional Tribunal; regional and appellate courts subdivided into military, civil, criminal, labor, and family courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Civic Platform or PO [Donald TUSK, chairman; Rafal GRUPINSKI, parliamentary caucus leader]
Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Leszek MILLER, chairman, parliamentary caucus leader]
Democratic Party or PD [Andrzej CELINSKI, chairman]
Democratic Party or SD [Pawel PISKORSKI, chairman]
German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Ryszard GALLA, representative]
Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI, chairman; Mariusz BLASZCZAK, parliamentary caucus leader]
League of Polish Families or LPR [Witold BALAZAK, chairman]
Poland Comes First or PJN [Pawel KOWAL, chairperson]
Poland Together or PR [Jaroslaw GOWIN, chairman]
Polish People's Party or PSL [Janusz PIECHOCINSKI, chairman; Jan BURY, parliamentary caucus leader]
Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL [Wojciech FILEMONOWICZ, chairman]
Union of Labor or UP [Waldemar WITKOWSKI, chairman]
United Poland or SP [Zbigniew ZIOBRO, chairperson; Arkadiusz MULARCZYK, parliamentary caucus leader]
Your Movement or TR [Janusz PALIKOT, chairman, parliamentary caucus leader] (formerly Palikot's Your Movement)


Political pressure groups and leaders:
All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Jan GUZ]


International organization participation:
Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Ryszard SCHNEPF (since 28 September 2012)
chancery:2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:[1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
FAX:[1] (202) 328-6271
consulate(s) general:Chicago, Los Angeles, New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Stephen MULL (since 24 October 2012)
embassy:Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw
mailing address:American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch)
telephone:[48] (22) 504-2000
FAX:[48] (22) 504-2688
consulate(s) general:Krakow


Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; colors derive from the Polish emblem - a white eagle on a red field


National symbol(s):
white eagle


National anthem:
name:'Mazurek Dabrowskiego' (Dabrowski's Mazurka)

lyrics/music:Jozef WYBICKI/traditional
note:adopted 1927; the anthem, commonly known as 'Jeszcze Polska nie zginela' (Poland Has Not Yet Perished), was written in 1797; the lyrics resonate strongly with Poles because they reflect the numerous occasions in which the nation's lands have been occupied

Economy


Economy - overview:
Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization since 1990 and Poland's economy was the only one in the EU to avoid a recession through the 2008-09 economic downturn. Although EU membership and access to EU structural funds have provided a major boost to the economy since 2004, GDP per capita remains significantly below the EU average while unemployment continues to exceed the EU average. The government of Prime Minister Donald TUSK steered the Polish economy through the economic downturn by skillfully managing public finances and adopting controversial pension and tax reforms to further shore up public finances. While the Polish economy has performed well over the past five years, growth slowed in 2012 and 2013, in part due to the ongoing economic difficulties in the euro zone. Short-term, the key policy challenge will be to consolidate debt and spending without stifling economic growth. Over the longer term, Poland's economic performance could improve if the country addresses some of the remaining deficiencies in its road and rail infrastructure, business environment, rigid labor code, commercial court system, government red tape, and burdensome tax system.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$814 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$803.3 billion (2012 est.)
$788.6 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$513.9 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
1.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
1.9% (2012 est.)
4.5% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$20,800 (2012 est.)
$20,500 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
16.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
17.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
16.7% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:61.5%
government consumption:17.6%
investment in fixed capital:18.3%
investment in inventories:0.6%
exports of goods and services:46.7%
imports of goods and services:-44.7%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:4%
industry:33.3%
services:62.7% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, dairy


Industries:
machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles


Industrial production growth rate:
5.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53

Labor force:
18.22 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:12.9%
industry:30.2%
services:57% (2010)


Unemployment rate:
10.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
10.1% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
10.6% (2008 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:3.3%
highest 10%:27.1% (2009 est.)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 95
31.6 (1998)


Budget:
revenues:$92.5 billion
expenditures:$92.47 billion (2013 est.)


    Taxes and other revenues:
18% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
0% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42


Public debt:
48.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
48.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, the data include subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
3.7% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
4% (31 December 2010 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.9% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
8.73% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$162 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$156.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$291.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$290.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$344.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$328.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$177.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$11.06 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
-$18.14 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$202.3 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$191 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6%


Exports - partners:
Germany 26%, UK 7%, Czech Republic 6.5%, France 6%, Russia 5.2%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 4.6% (2012)


Imports:
$207.4 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$197.7 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 15%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9% (2011 est.)


Imports - partners:
Germany 27.3%, Russia 12.2%, Netherlands 5.9%, China 5.4%, Italy 5.2%, Czech Republic 4.3%, France 4.2% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$107.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$108.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$365.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$364.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$248.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$246.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$69.78 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$70.28 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
zlotych (PLN) per US dollar -
3.175 (2013 est.)
3.2565 (2012 est.)
3.0153 (2010 est.)
3.1214 (2009)
2.3 (2008)

Energy


Electricity - production:
153.4 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25


Electricity - consumption:
155 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25


Electricity - exports:
12.64 billion kWh (2012)
country comparison to the world: 16


Electricity - imports:
9.803 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
33.36 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
89.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
2.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
3.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53


Crude oil - production:
27,680 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71


Crude oil - exports:
3,615 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66


Crude oil - imports:
547,900 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
156.5 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63


Refined petroleum products - production:
636,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
576,600 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30


Refined petroleum products - exports:
68,970 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55


Refined petroleum products - imports:
137,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41


Natural gas - production:
6.193 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51


Natural gas - consumption:
14.38 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39


Natural gas - exports:
25.01 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17


Natural gas - imports:
37.38 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15


Natural gas - proved reserves:
92 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
307.9 million Mt (2011 est.)


Communications


Telephones - main lines in use:
6.125 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 28


Telephones - mobile cellular:
50.84 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 27


Telephone system:
general assessment:modernization of the telecommunications network has accelerated with market-based competition; fixed-line service, dominated by the former state-owned company, is dwarfed by the growth in mobile-cellular services
domestic:mobile-cellular service available since 1993 and provided by three nation-wide networks with a fourth provider beginning operations in late 2006; coverage is generally good with some gaps in the east; fixed-line service lags in rural areas
international:country code - 48; international direct dialing with automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2011)



    Broadcast media:
state-run public TV operates 2 national channels supplemented by 16 regional channels and several niche channels; privately owned entities operate several national TV networks and a number of special interest channels; many privately owned channels broadcasting locally; roughly half of all households are linked to either satellite or cable TV systems providing access to foreign television networks; state-run public radio operates 5 national networks and 17 regional radio stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks, several commercial stations broadcasting to multiple cities, and many privately owned local radio stations (2007)


Internet country code:
.pl


Internet hosts:
13.265 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 12


Internet users:
22.452 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 19


Transportation


Airports
126 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 47


Airports - with paved runways
total:87
over 3,047 m:5
2,438 to 3,047 m:30
1,524 to 2,437 m:36
914 to 1,523 m:10
under 914 m:6 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:39
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:17
under 914 m:
21 (2013)


Heliports
6 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 14,198 km; oil 1,374 km; refined products 777 km (2013)


Railways
total:19,428 kmcountry comparison to the world: 15
broad gauge:399 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge:19,029 km 1.435-m gauge (11,805 km electrified) (2007)


    Roadways
total:412,035 kmcountry comparison to the world: 15
paved:280,719 km (includes 2,418 km of expressways)
unpaved:131,316 km (2012)


Waterways
3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 28


Merchant marine
total:9country comparison to the world: 117
by type:cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries:106 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Bahamas 34, Cyprus 24, Liberia 13, Malta 21, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Vanuatu 9) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie
river port(s):Szczecin (River Oder)

Military


Military branches
Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Aviation Forces, Special Forces (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription phased out in 2009-12; service obligation shortened from 12 to 9 months in 2005; women only allowed to serve as officers and noncommissioned officers (2013)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:9,531,855
females age 16-49:9,298,593 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:7,817,556
females age 16-49:7,766,361 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:221,889
female:211,172 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
1.91% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 44
1.83% of GDP (2011)
1.91% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues


Disputes - international
as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine


Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):15,149 (Russia) (2013)
stateless persons:10,825 (2012)



    Illicit drugs
despite diligent counternarcotics measures and international information sharing on cross-border crimes, a major illicit producer of synthetic drugs for the international market; minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe
Information provided by CIA - The World Fact Book

Doing Business in Poland 2020


Poland Ease of Doing Business Rank: 40 Overall Score: 76.4
Starting a Business (rank) 128
Score 82.9
Procedures - Men (number) 5
Time - Men (number) 37
Cost - Men (days) 11.6
Procedures - Women (days) 5
Time - Women (% of income per capita) 37
Cost - Women (% of income per capita) 11.6
Paid in minimum capital (% of income per capita) 9.3
Dealing with Construction Permits (rank) 39
Score 76.4
Procedures (number) 12
Time (days) 137
Cost (% of warehouse value) 0.3
Building Quality Control Index(0-15) 10
Quality of building regulations index (0-2) 1
Quality control before construction index (0-1) 1
Quality control during construction index (0-3) 2
Quality control after construction index (0-3) 2
Liability and insurance regimes index (0-2) 2
Professional certifications index (0-4) 2
Getting Electricity (rank) 60
Score 82.3
Procedures (number) 4
Time (days) 113
Cost (% of income per capita) 16.3
Reliability of supply and transparency of tariff index (0-8) 7
Total duration and frequency of outages per customer a year (0-3) 2
Mechanisms for monitoring outages (0-1) 1
Mechanisms for restoring service (0-1) 1
Regulatory monitoring (0-1) 1
Financial deterrents aimed at limiting outages (0-1) 1
Communication of tariffs and tariff changes (0-1) 1
System average interruption duration index (SAIDI) 1.1
System average interruption frequency index (SAIFI) 1.1
Minimum outage time (in minutes) 3
Price of electricity (US cents per kWh) 13.7
Registering Property (rank) 92
Score 63.9
Procedures (number) 6
Time (days) 135
Cost (% of property value) 0.3
Quality of land administration index (0-30) 19
Reliability of infrastructure index (0-8) 7
Transparency of information index (0-6) 2.5
Geographic coverage index (0-8) 4
Land dispute resolution index (0-8) 5.5
Equal access to property rights index (-2-0) 0
Getting credit (rank) 37
Score 75
Strength of legal rights index (0-12) 7
Depth of credit information index (0-8) 8
Getting Credit total score 15
Credit registry coverage (% of adults) 0
Credit bureau coverage (% of adults) 100
Protecting Minority Investors (rank) 51
Score 66
Extent of disclosure index (0-10) 7
Extent of director liability index (0-10) 2
Ease of shareholder suits index (0-10) 9
Extent of shareholder rights index (0-6) 5
Extent of ownership and control index (0-7) 4
Extent of corporate transparency index (0-7) 6
Strength of minority investor protection index (0-50) 33
Paying Taxes (rank) 77
Score 76.4
Payments (number per year) 7
Time (hours per year) 334
Total tax and contribution rate (% of profit) 40.8
Profit tax (% of profit) 14.5
Labor tax and contributions (% of profit) 25.3
Other taxes (% of profit) 1
Time to comply with VAT refund (hours) 8
Time to obtain VAT refund (weeks) 8
Time to comply with a corporate income tax correction (hours) 6
Time to complete a corporate income tax correction (weeks) 18
Postfiling index (0-100) 77.4
Trading across borders (rank) 1
Score 100
Time to export: Documentary compliance (hours) 1
Time to import: Documentary compliance (hours) 1
Time to export: Border compliance (hours) 0
Time to import: Border compliance (hours) 0
Cost to export: Documentary compliance (USD) 0
Cost to import: Documentary compliance 0
Cost to export: Border compliance (USD) 0
Cost to import: Border compliance (USD) 0
Enforcing contract (rank) 55
Score 64.4
Time (days) 685
Filing and service (days) 60
Trial and judgment (days) 480
Enforcement of judgment (days) 145
Cost (% of claim) 19.4
Attorney fees (% of claim) 12
Court fees (% of claim) 5.4
Enforcement fees (% of claim) 2
Quality of the judicial processes index (0-18) 11
Court structure and proceedings (0-5) 5
Case management (0-6) 1.5
Court automation (0-4) 1.5
Alternative dispute resolution (0-3) 3
Resolving Insolvency (rank) 25
Score 76.5
Outcome (0 as piecemeal sale and 1 as going concern) 1
Time (years) 3
Cost (% of estate) 15
Recovery rate (cents on the dollar) 60.9
Strength of insolvency framework index (0-16) 14
Commencement of proceedings index (0-3) 3
Management of debtor's assets index (0-6) 6
Reorganization proceedings index (0-3) 3
Creditor participation index (0-4) 2
Information provided by The World Bank Group

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